The Real Deal New York

Chinese agency Qiaowai is still selling its ties to the White House

May 13, 2017 10:40AM

A screenshot of the current banner on Qiaowai’s website

Reacting to backlash over its pitch to Chinese EB-5 investors, Kushner Companies executives decided to not take part in a roadshow to promote the company’s One Journal Square project this weekend. But that hasn’t stopped Beijing-based Qiaowai, the migration agency that organized the roadshow, from pitching its U.S. political connections, according to Reuters.

Kushner Companies executives, including Nicole Kushner Meyer — whose comments raised conflict-of-interest questions — made the call to no longer take part in sales pitches to investors. Nevertheless, Qiaowai posted photos on social media yesterday saying the events with Kushner executives had prompted a “buying rush.” Moreover, EB-5 rules sate that promoters should never promise green cards to investors or guarantee that their investments will pay off, but according to Reuters, Qiaowai’s online marketing materials suggest that they may have done just that.

The company posted and then deleted a post on WeChat stating that the project “in a real sense guarantees a permanent green card and the safety of the investment principal, and we consider it one of the best of Qiaowai’s 87 projects to date!” They also stated that the project “fully safeguards investors’ green cards and funds,” and used similar language more than a dozen times in marketing materials.

Qiaowai founder and president, Ding Ying, even claimed to have attended President Trump’s inauguration, meeting with the President and members of his family and cabinet, according to the company’s website.

“The fact that Ms Ding has once again been invited to attend a presidential inauguration shows that the U.S. Congress values and approves of the Qiaowai group,” its website stated. Vice President Mike Pence denies that the meeting occurred. [Reuters] —Christopher Cameron